O'Sullivan gives Masemola one day to suspend dodgy crime intelligence heads, or else...

News24

02-07-2025

Forensic investigator Paul O'Sullivan has threatened to take legal action against National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola if he doesn't suspend seven crime intelligence officers arrested for fraud and corruption.
The officers, including crime intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo and chief financial officer Philani Lushaba, were arrested by Idac for irregularly appointing someone to a senior position and were released on R10 000 bail each.
O'Sullivan gave Masemola until 3 July to suspend the officers or face a court application compelling their suspension in the public interest.
Forensic investigator Paul O'Sullivan has warned National Police Commissioner Fannie Masemola that he will bring a court application compelling the police to suspend the seven crime intelligence officers implicated in fraud and corruption.
Last week, the National Prosecuting Authority Investigating Directorate Against Corruption (Idac) arrested crime intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo, the unit's chief financial officer Philani Lushaba, and other police officials: Nosipho Madondo, Josias Lekalakala, Zwelithini Gabela, Phindile Ncube and Dineo Mokwele.
Their charges relate to the irregular employment of Mokwele in a senior position of brigadier in technical support services. The group is alleged to have colluded in unlawfully appointing Mokwele to a top post.
Khumalo, Lushaba, Lekalakala, Gabela, Ncube and Mokwele were granted R10 000 bail each. They were ordered not to enter any premises belonging to crime intelligence.
READ: Crime intelligence head Dumisani Khumalo arrested on corruption charges
In a letter sent to Masemola on Tuesday, lawyers representing O'Sullivan's nonprofit charitable organisation Forensics for Justice said Masemola had until Wednesday to implement the suspension of the seven police officials, as per the police's own prescripts.
Forensics for Justice aims to expose and take action against corrupt office-bearers in the criminal justice system and other state-owned entities.
Law firm Darryl Furman and Associates said O'Sullivan has been investigating some or all of the above-named officials since last year and had cause to provide a detailed file to the Office of the Inspector General of Intelligence in respect of corruption, nepotism and abuse of office.
Our client is, therefore, pleased with the action taken by Idac and notes that the accused persons have all been charged with very serious offences, with six of the seven being released on bail. In the circumstances, we have been instructed to request that you urgently advise us of your intentions with regard to the suspension of the accused persons.
Letter
Furman said there is much public interest in the unacceptably high rate of crime in South Africa, especially when it is being perpetrated by five generals and two brigadiers, such as the accused.
'The public has the right to know what you, as the accounting officer of the SA Police Service, are doing about the accused persons. The public has a right to hear that they have been suspended or are being suspended,' the letter read.
Furman warned Masemola that he was instructed to bring an urgent application to compel the police to act.
Furman reminded Masemola that on 26 June at 7.41pm, O'Sullivan, the founder of Forensics for Justice, had sent him a message in respect of the accused. The message indicated that O'Sullivan understood Masemola has privately promised not to suspend Khumalo.
The text to Masemola reads:
I understand you have privately stated you will NOT suspend him, or any of the others going down with him. You are given until Monday to suspend them all, or I will launch an urgent application in the high court and will also call for your suspension. Louis Vuitton bag for the wife or not.
Letter
O'Sullivan's reference to the Louis Vuitton bag relates to allegations in which Masemola and other senior officials are accused of being gifted with money and expensive bags during a presentation by a prospective service provider who later raked in millions from the police service.
'Our client is of the opinion that Crime Intelligence has ceased to be an effective tool in the fight against serious crime in South Africa, because, in his view, the facts support that for at least the last 20 years it has been led by criminals. More importantly, if the accused persons are not suspended from their duties, they have the opportunity to not only attempt to cover their tracks, but also continue to commit further crimes,' the letter read.
O'Sullivan said the fact that Lushaba, who controls a budget of R600 million, is languishing in prison, awaiting trial, begs the question: Do his colleagues bring his laptop to him in prison, so that he may effect electronic transfers?'
The letter concluded:
Finally, our instructions are to advise you, as we hereby do, that unless we receive your response by the close of business on 2 July 2025 to the effect that the accused persons are all to be suspended, pending disciplinary action, our client shall assume that you will not suspend the accused persons.
Letter
Furman said the instructions were to prepare and launch an urgent application in the high court to obtain an order that the accused be suspended, in the public interest. It was unclear whether the seven were suspended at the time of publication.
The police had not responded to requests for comment by the time of publication.